The Cost of Discipleship

AM Psalm 78:1-39 • PM Psalm 78:40-72
Joel 1:15-2:2(3-11) • Rev. 19:1-10 • Luke 14:25-35

In our gospel reading today, Jesus speaks of the cost of discipleship. He begins with some startling statements about having to “hate” your family. It leaves no room for choosing your family, or even your own life over serving God. It is a complete commitment. What follows are two analogies that can be summarized to these points:

Plan for your building, or it will eventually be clear that you didn’t plan to finish. If you assess you can’t win the battle, you find a path to peace.

We must measure the cost of the goals we are hoping to achieve bringing God’s kindom to the world. We must plan for what we are called to build. We have to recognize our role, our task, and what we can do as a molecular part of a global mission. If it looks like you will not be able to win the battle at hand, rather than face annihilation out of principle, the example illustrates finding a way to continue existing for the long game. You must be willing to give up everything, which is the greatest exercise in faith.

Perhaps that is the “saltiness.” Keeping the faith in the face of challenges. Keeping in perspective the things that truly matter and the things that bind us to things that don’t. Knowing that like salt, no matter how much we are “crushed,” that the impact we have and can make is still there. 

Stay salty, friends.

Written by Dan Robinson

Dan Robinson is the Media Ministries specialist at St. Paul’s, overseeing the streaming of services online.